Borel to ride for U.S. in Dubai jockey competition

Calvin Borel has been selected to represent the United States in the Meydan Masters jockey competition at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Feb. 17-18.

The winning rider of three of the last four Kentucky Derbies – aboard Super Saver, Mine That Bird and Street Sense – the 45-year-old Borel will be riding in the United Arab Emirates for the first time in his career.

“I’m very excited. This is unbelievable, a very big honor,” he said. “My agent, Jerry Hissam, and I work hard and I’m very fortunate to be here in this position.” Borel, who is riding at Oaklawn Park this winter, is no stranger to international jockey competitions, as he won a race in Japan’s World Super Jockeys series at Hanshin in 2009.

Borel will be competing against 11 of the world’s best riders, most of them having been chosen for a memorable ride in 2010. Borel was chosen for his Kentucky Derby victory aboard Super Saver.

Three Frenchman have been selected: Olivier Peslier for his King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes score aboard Harbinger, Gerald Mosse for his Melbourne Cup win on Americain, and Maxime Guyon, who rode Lope de Vega to win the French Derby.

Three riders based in Britain will compete. They are Ryan Moore, Workforce’s rider in the Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe; William Buick, who rode Dar Re Mi to win the Dubai Sheema Classic; and Richard Hughes, who rode Canford Cliffs to three Group 1 wins in Europe and Jacqueline to win four classic races in India.

Frankie Dettori, who piloted Mastery to win the Hong Kong Vase, Johnny Murtagh, the Irish Derby winner aboard Cape Blanco, and Hiroyuki Uchida, Eishin Flash’s partner in the Japanese Derby, have also been selected. Tiago Pereira, who rode Gloria de Campeao to win the Dubai World Cup, will represent Brazil.

The four-race contest will consist of two races each on Feb. 17 and 18 at distances from a mile to 1 1/2 miles.